A recent letter condemning Israel’s decision to ban UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from the country, circulated by Chile, garnered 104 signatory countries. However, India’s name was notably absent from the list, sparking surprise among observers. The letter, which called on Israel to reconsider its decision, emphasized the importance of respecting the UN’s leadership and mission.
Some of India’s closest allies, including BRICS partners China and Russia, as well as European states like France and Switzerland, signed the letter. In contrast, America, Israel’s top ally, Japan, and South Korea abstained from participating. The Israeli government had announced the ban in early October, citing Guterres’ lack of condemnation for Iran’s massive missile barrage against Israel.
The move was seen as a response to Guterres’ failure to directly condemn Iran for the attack, which killed an estimated 1,200 people and resulted in the abduction of dozens. The incident marked the culmination of nearly a year of tensions between Guterres, the UN, and Israel, following the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
The UN chief initially responded to the attack by calling for “all parties” to “avoid any further escalation.” However, his subsequent remarks appeared to blame Israel for the attack, sparking widespread criticism. Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan condemned Guterres’ comments as “shocking” and “horrible,” while the head of the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, Yad Vashem, also condemned Guterres for “failing” the “never again” test.
In contrast, the Indian government has been vocal in its condemnation of Hamas and radical Islamic terrorism. Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a statement shortly after the attack, saying that India “stands firmly with Israel in this difficult hour” and “strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.”
The Indian External Affairs Ministry also denounced Iran’s “supreme leader,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, for declaring India an “enemy of Islam” in a statement in September. The ministry called the comments “misinformed and unacceptable,” urging countries to look at their own record before making observations about others.
India’s decision to abstain from the letter has raised eyebrows, particularly given its diplomatic friendship with Israel. Former Israeli ambassador to India Daniel Carmon noted that Israel had supported India in the 1999 Kargil War, and that New Delhi had maintained a strong relationship with Jerusalem despite publicly declaring support for a Palestinian state.
The public disagreement between India and Iran is notable, as both countries are members of BRICS, an anti-American security and economic partnership. BRICS has repeatedly condemned Israel for taking self-defense actions against Hamas, but has failed to condemn the terrorists for the October 7 attack. India’s decision to abstain from the letter has left many wondering about its true stance on the issue.
